STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3537

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 124

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2022

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committees on Health and Human Services, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 124 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO WORK WITH THE YMCA OF HONOLULU TO SUPPORT THE MENTAL WELLNESS OF THE STATE'S YOUTH,"

beg leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to urge the Department of Health and Department of Human Services to work with the YMCA of Honolulu to support the mental wellness of the State's youth.

Your Committees received testimony in support of this measure from the YMCA of Honolulu and two individuals. Your Committees received comments on this measure from the Department of Health and Department of Human Services.

Your Committees find that the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has negatively impacted the State's youth, preventing them from meeting important social and developmental milestones and stripping them of healthy coping mechanisms, such as socializing with friends. Recent national surveys of young people have shown alarming increases in the prevalence of certain mental health challenges, such as depression and anxiety. Your Committees also find that the YMCA of Honolulu has a proven track record of success in working with youth and can provide a community-based approach to support youth at various points in their mental wellness pathway. Therefore, this measure urges the Department of Health and Department of Human Services to work with the YMCA of Honolulu to support the mental wellness of the State's youth.

Your Committees have amended this measure by:

(1) Requesting the Department of Health and Department of Human Services to work with community partners, including the YMCA, to support the mental wellness of the State's youth; and

(2) Amending its title accordingly.

As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committees on Health and Human Services that are attached to this report, your Committees concur with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 124, as amended herein, and recommend its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 124, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committees on Health and Human Services,

________________________________ JOY A. SAN BUENAVENTURA, Chair

________________________________ JARRETT KEOHOKALOLE, Chair